U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded Cedar Point’s announcement that it will build a new rollercoaster, Valravn, in Sandusky made with steel track and supports from Clermont Steel Fabricators, LLC in Batavia. Upon completion,

Valravn will be Cedar Point’s fourth rollercoaster made in Ohio, and the tallest, fastest, and longest dive rollercoaster in the world.

“For many years, Cedar Point has relied on Ohio companies, like Clermont Steel Fabricators, to build its coasters – and for good reason,” Brown said. “We know Ohio’s manufacturers and workers can compete with anyone in the world – whether they are making car parts or rollercoaster tracks. Today’s announcement reflects Cedar Point’s continued support of Ohio jobs and northern Ohio’s economy, and is a testament to the strength of Clermont Steel Fabricators and its workers. Its products will satisfy thrill seekers for years to come at Cedar Point.”

Brown continues to support Ohio manufacturers like Clermont Steel Fabricators, LLC. Brown’s _Leveling the Playing Field Act, which was signed into law last month, will restore strength to antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) statutes that allow U.S. companies to petition the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission (ITC) when foreign producers sell goods in the U.S. below market price or receive illegal subsidies. This is especially important for the steel industry, which has seen an influx of imports into the U.S. market, putting the American industry at a competitive disadvantage and threatening Ohio jobs.

Brown also recognizes the job creation and economic benefits of Cedar Point’s investment in Ohio. In March 2013, Brown visited the construction site of GateKeeper, Cedar Point’s third Ohio-made rollercoaster.

He was joined by representatives from Ohio-based companies that were integral to its overall construction.

They included A.A. Boos & Sons of Oregon, Ohio, which handled the concrete foundation work for GateKeeper; Bert R. Witte Inc. of Amherst, contractor responsible for all the carpentry work on the GateKeeper; Firelands Electric of Sandusky, which assembled the electrical system that powers the ride and the lighting components; and S. A. Comunale, a Fremont pipefitting company handling the air lines for GateKeeper’s brakes and its plumbing.